Front Page Article Vermont Standard

Some new front page, above-the-fold press in the Vermont Standard. Article follows below.

GOP’s KT Knows Win Would Be Out of the Blue

Staff Report

KT Cappellini is in Woodstock every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

“I’ve knocked on at least 300 doors in Woodstock,” he said last Thursday afternoon, when he knocked on some more with Scott Milne, who was campaigning for U.S. Senate.

Cappellini is the Republican candidate for the state house seat representing Woodstock, Reading and Plymouth. He’s facing off in the Nov. 8 general election against Democrat Charlie Kimbell.

“More often than not people in Woodstock are either Independent or Democrat,” Cappellini said. “But it doesn’t matter to me.”

Cappellini is running to straighten out “lopsided” Montpelier and show people, “There’s a definite alternative.”

Cappellini was born on Staten Island and now lives in Plymouth. He formerly worked as a producer for German television company ARD, which had 137 news bureaus around the world at one point. Cappellini has lived in Berlin, Germany, Washington D.C. and New York City. He covered the 2004 election and 2008 election until he lost his job in 2009 when the company downsized.

On Thursday, Cappellini talked about jobs and the economy, explaining a plan to bring manufacturing jobs back to the state. He has a plan he calls the “Precision Valley Tax-Free Manufacturing Act,” which would provide multi-year tax incentives to any manufacturing firm either newly formed or relocated in the state.

“It’s a start at a way of trying to get some real economic growth in Vermont,” he said.

“We’ve already made great strides in that regard, why not take it to the next level?” Cappellini said. “It’s something we should brand.”

His ideas are based off what he saw in Germany.

Cappellini’s opponent also has ideas to expand the economy.

Charlie Kimbell has lived in Vermont most of his life. He was recently director of marketing for Manufacturing Information See WIN- Page 3A

Pomfret’s Milne Takes on Leahy

Page 9A

WIN

From Page 1A Systems, Inc. He’s also worked as a marketing consultant and marketing manager. He serves on the Economic Development Commission in Woodstock.

Like Cappellini, Kimbell mentioned manufacturing as one type of job to grow Vermont’s economy. He also mentioned agricultural enterprises, software development, financial industries and timber industries, among others.

Kimbell talks about creating a better workforce through vocational and technical schools, which isn’t unlike Cappellini’s idea to create a stronger workforce through more technical training in school.

Kimbell also favors renewable energy but said in an email solar should be scaled to the size of a community and subject to Act 250 standards.

Cappellini said not as well-known as his opponent.

“That’s an area where Charlie’s got a little bit of a lead on me,” he said.

Cappellini is a strong proponent of gun rights. He said he’s been buying and collecting guns since he was old enough to do so and he’s hunted every year since he was 7. Cappellini has all types of guns, he said, including target shooting guns and defense weapons.

“It’s a tool,” Cappellini said of his reasons for having a defense weapon. “You don’t know when you’re going to need it.”

On his website, Cappellini proposes a “Vermont Firearms Freedom Act,” which would limit Federal regulations of firearms and ammunition produced in Vermont. Other states like Montana, Arkansas, Arizona, Idaho, have the similar laws. “Vermont is a gun culture state, always has been, people grow up with them and I think there’s a lot of respect for firearms in Vermont,” said Cappellini.

Cappellini appeared eager to catch up to his opponent last Thursday.

Cappellini put his flier in each home as he walked Woodstock with Milne last week. It was mid-afternoon and most people weren’t home.